Licences on undeveloped quarrying sites risk being cancelled, warns Tanzania government

Bagamoyo. The government has warned holders of quarrying licences that they risk losing them if they failed to develop their sites.

The warning was made by the deputy minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Stanislaus Nyongo, on Tuesday Jul 24, when he toured and inspected mines located in Bagamoyo District.

According to Mr Nyongo, some locals, who have acquired mining licences, have been playing tricks on foreign investors when the latter seek for investment opportunities in the country.

“There are many mining hotspots in the country but if a foreign investor wants to acquire the area for quarrying business, he is denied on the excuse that someone else is holding a licence over it,” he said.

“But those people said to hold licences over the areas don’t develop them, leaving bushes to thrives. This tendency is not acceptable. We’ll cancel such licences,” he warned.

Mr Nyongo also directed local authorities in the region to inspect validity of all the licenses as per the country’s mineral act.

At the same time, he warned people distributing quarrying materials without paying the due taxes saying they were breaking the law, and should stop immediately.

On this, he challenged local authorities to apply digital mechanisms that would help them collect the due dues over the material.

“If you deal in materials like sand, gravel, crushed stones, and slag, do pay your dues accordingly,” he directed.

He also advised that investors in quarrying business should compensate people living in the neighbourhood so as to avoid health hazards.

Ashraf, Yaate, Turn-Tuk, Even, Kerai and Suma JKT mines being operated in partnership with Turkish investors were the mines that the minister inspected.